Yes - I am aware it's been awhile since I've posted. As if that fact wasn't obvious by the date on my last post, I became more painfully aware when I had to reach into the depths of my memory to remember my password! But alas...
The ABN County Fair and Festival Tour powered by Propane is in full swing, with five different county fairs on the agenda this week. This whirlwind of stops coming just on the heels of my home fair, the Logan County Fair in Bellefontaine, wrapping up it's run for 2009. While the tour only allows us to spend part of a day at most fairs across the state, Andy and I were able to spend the better part of two days in Logan County catching up with friends and acquaintances and enjoying some good (although not good for you) fair food.
In all of this time spent on the circuit, I can't but help but notice one thing that seems to be a trending habit among fairgoers is to degrade their county fairs. It seems that what used to be an attitude of pride in one pronouncing that one's fair is the best, has quickly turned to negative criticism and claims that things just aren't what they used to be. Well, I do agree with one part of that, things aren't what they used to be.
It's important to remember that while Americans are struggling with loss of jobs, debt and increasing costs of just about everything, that our county fair boards don't live in a bubble. They are also affected by those same economic challenges, while at the same time being challenged each year to produce more with less.
On the whole, society has become spoiled by the financial comfort to enjoy concerts, stage shows, rodeos, sporting events and much more from top name acts and star quality performers. And now that purse strings are a little tighter, there is an expectation that this same level of entertainment can be found within 15 minutes of home at our county fair. And while some fairs are still fortunate to be able to provide such top-notch entertainment, for others it just isn't in the cards.
I remember when I was younger that when local groups like Phil Dirt and the Dozers played at the county fair, everyone showed up, sang along and had a great time. We filled the grandstand for every event and were the first ones in the gate every morning and the last ones out each evening of the county fair. Yet now, when a county fair boasts entertainment that only has one chart-topping single in the infancy of their career, or while having had a great career, hasn't topped the charts recently, we look down the act and say we've got better things to do than to attend their show.
Again, why is that? It's because we have become spoiled. Our expectations have been raised because it's become common practice to drive farther distances, more often to seek entertainment. Now, when the local rodeo company sets up in a county fair grandstand, we take it for granted.
So why then does a classic tradition like the demolition derby still pack the grandstand at most fairs across the state? It never fails that as we travel about, we are told by fair organizers that they have added even more than one demolition derby because of the crowd it draws. How is it possible in today's society that the demolition derby maintains that level of popularity?
The demolition derby is a fair tradition that hasn't changed a bit in the past thirty years. Organizers haven't tried to modify or make major changes to the event to keep up with trends or societal changes. Quite simply, you know exactly what you're going to get, and what you're going to pay to get it. This keeps expectations reasonable, and thus in the eyes of attendees those expectations are usually met or exceeded. And to be clear, that's not a criticism of the event. In fact, it may be viewed as praise.
Unlike other fair acts that are rivaled by Las Vegas magicians, Grammy winning artists and Broadway talent, the demolition derby isn't competing against anything similar of greater acclaim.
Thus, I think it's important for fair-goers to remember that perhaps it's not the fairs that have changed. It is that attendees who have changed. And unfortunately, we've changed not just in our expectations, but also our attitudes.
After all, when you list the reasons that people attend the county fair, it usually boils down to about three things. We enjoy catching up with people we only see a few times a year. We want to support the Junior Fair by watching young people compete. And, we want to fulfill our annual need for deep fried veggies and an elephant ear. And, there's only one place we can do all of those things - the county fair.
So perhaps, instead of looking for everything wrong about our county fair, we need to appreciate the tradition and what it has to offer. Instead of listing the things we would change about our fair, maybe we need to stop and think for a moment what it would be like if it were no longer there. And maybe instead of pointing out what we aren't getting, we should appreciate these local events that offer family entertainment at relatively affordable costs.
When I visit fairs across the state, I want to hear people speak with pride and tell us what's great about their county fair. I want to learn about the young person who won a blue ribbon against all odds. Tell me about the 4-H adviser who is retiring after 50 years of volunteering with youth. Or, how about the family who has three generations serving together on the county fair board?
Let's take pride in our county fairs and appreciate the tradition that brings us together each summer.
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